We have an exciting lineup for our Fall Meeting this Thursday at Founders Brewing. If you plan to attend, please register through the link below. The meeting costs $20 for non-members and $10 for Members. The cost covers lunch. We will be able to accept either cash or card day of the event.
Hop Harvest Update with Jer Kosmicki, Adam Schmidt, and Andy Walawender
Jeremy Kosmicki, Brewmaster, is responsible for Founders Brewing Company’s new and traditional recipes. Kosmicki uses his passion for beer and comprehensive knowledge of brewing processes to craft creative recipes and produce the best, most exciting beers possible. He’s involved in every step of the Founders beer development process – from the creation of the recipe to the tasting of the final product.
Kosmicki is passionate about the beer community and brewing – focused on creating big, bold flavors that are appropriately balanced. He began his beer journey as a homebrewer and has worked at Founders since 2000 – starting as a part-time packaging employee before becoming assistant brewer in 2002. He was named head brewer in 2005, and is responsible for household Founders beers including All Day IPA, Breakfast Stout, KBS, and more.
Kosmicki’s beers have won numerous awards at major competitions all over the world, and he stays connected with the brewing community nationwide as a member of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas. He fills his fridge at home with Founders brews like All Day IPA, Centennial, and Solid Gold – plus Coors Banquet and other specialty beers that he likes to try and share. Beer is always his beverage of choice.
Adam Schmitt is the Brewing Manager for Mahou USA at Founders Brewing Co. His entire 15 years of brewery experience has been at Founders. Prior to managing the brewing team for the past 8 years, Adam started his journey in packaging and spent 6 years as a shift brewer. In his current role, Adam is responsible for wort production on 3 brewhouses, at 2 facilities, and includes other items like raw material intake, malt and hop procurement, hop selection, and internal audits. In addition to the MBAA, he is a Member of the American Malting Barley Association(AMBA), and Hop Quality Group.
HOLD UP – a primer on quality holds at Founders Brewing Company with Mike Chailland
Mike has worked at Founders Brewing Company in the Quality department for 7 years and in the brewing industry as a whole for 10 years. He is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada which is where he started his career in the brewing industry. He has an education in Fermentation Science and Quality Control from Oregon State University.
Brewery Saftey 101 with Kasey Wesley
Kasey Wesley is the Environmental, Health, & Safety Manager for Founders Brewing Co.
Before being named EHS Manager in August 2022, Kasey began her journey with Founders as the EHS Intern in May 2019. Once she graduated from Grand Valley State University’s Occupational Safety and Health Management program in April 2020, Kasey accepted a full-time position as EHS Coordinator with Founders. During this time, she became the Education Chair for West Michigan’s American Society of Safety Professionals, pioneering the chapter’s first Mentorship Program for students and professionals, and began her Master of Business Administration degree from GVSU, graduating in June 2023. Throughout her time at Founders, Kasey has helped implement various EHS programs such as Lockout Tagout, Hearing Conservation, Forklift Safety, HAZOM, Dropped Object Prevention, Stormwater Pollution Prevention, and Emergency Management.